Adjustable automobile thermostat



Dec. 14, 1943. J. v. GlEsLER ADJUSTABLE AUTOMOBILE THERMOSTAT Filed May6, 1942 Patented Dec. 14, 1943 2,336,858 ADJUSTABLE AUroMoBxLETHERMOSTAT Jean V. Giesler, Knoxville, Tenn., assigner to The FultonSylphon Company, Knoxville, Tenn., a

corporation of Delaware Application May e, 1942, serial No. 441,960

2 claims. (ci. 236-34) This invention relates to temperature regulators,and more particularly to temperature regulators for the cooling systemsof internal combustion engines of the type employing thermostaticallyoperated valve mechanism for controlling the circulation of coolingmedium through the cooling system of the engine.

It has heretofore been proposed to provide a temperature regulator ofthe type referred to wherein a thermostat operates coaxially mountedvalves on the stem of the thermo-stat for respectively controlling endand lateral openings in a tubular housing. It is sometimes desirable tobe able to adjust such a regulator so as to variably predetermine thetemperature at which the thermostat moves the valve members, and it isan object of this invention to provide a temperature regulator of thetype referred to which includes means whereby the regulator may bereadily adjusted to predetermine its eiective temperature range.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the type justcharacterized wherein the temperature adjusting mechanism is soconstructed and arranged as not to materially obstruct the flow ofcooling water through the regulator.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the typecharacterized which is simple in construction, easy to manipulate andinexpensive to produce.

Other objects will'appear as the description of the invention proceeds.

The invention is capable of receiving a variety of mechanicalexpressions, one of which is shown on the accompanying drawing, but itis to be expressly understood that the drawing is for purposes ofillustration only, and is not to be construed as a definition of thelimits of the invention, reference being had to the appended claimsI forthat purpose.

Referring in detail to the drawing, wherein the same referencecharacters are used to designate corresponding parts in the severalfigures:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View partly broken away of an embodiment of thepresent invention;

Fig. 2 is an axial section of said embodiment; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary axial section of the adjusting mechanism.

The present invention may be embodied in temperature regulators of awide variety of constructions, one known form of regulator for operatingmain and by-pass valves having been selected for purposes ofexemplifying the invention.

In the form illustrated, a tubular housing I0, which may be of anysuitable construction; is shown as composed of a generally cylindricalportion II, which may terminate at one end in a flange I2 to facilitatethe mounting of said housing in position, a truste-conical portion I3,which may terminate in a shoulder I4, and a cylindrical terminal portionI5. Suitably mounted in or from said housing l0 is a thermostat I6 ofany suitable construction, here shown as in the form of an expansibleand collapsible corrugated tubular metal container or bellows having astationary end wall Il and a movable end wall I8. Thermostat I6 ischarged wthany suitable thermosensitive uid and is mounted in anysuitable way, as by a strap I9 which may be attached at its ends, as byrivets, to the tubular wall of the housing I0 and which at anintermediate point has the stationary end wall I'I of said thermostatxedly attached thereto. Suitably attached to the movable end wall I8 ofsaid thermostat is a stem 20 to the free end of which is suitablyattached, as by screw threads 2 I, a valve member 22, here shownk as inthe form of a dished plate, for cooperation with the end of the tubularsection I5 which serves as a valve seat. Also suitably mounted on thevalve stem 20, and here shown as xed to movable end wall I8 by said stem20, is a spider 23 terminating in a frustoconical ange 24, said flange24 having the same angularity to the axis of the structure as has thefrusto-conical wall I3. Frusto-conical wall I3 is provided with suitableopenings 25, and the flange 24 is of such width that when said ange 24engages said frusto-conical Wall I3, said flange closes the openings 25.In place of a continuous llange 24, segments of a ange may be connectedto the arms of the spider 23, said segments being of sulcient extent toclose the openings 25 when engaged with the wall I3. Suitably attachedto the housing, as at shoulder I4, is a second spider 26 which instructures heretofore employed has carried a guide member or sleeve forthe stem 20.

As so far described, the temperature regulator is of known construction,and when suitably mounted, as in a water jacket for example, with thethermostat I6 subjected to the temperature of the water and suitablemain and by-pass conduits communicating with the end opening provided bythe tubular wall I5 and the openings 25, said regulator controls thecirculation of cooling medium in a known Way. When the cooling medium iscold, thermostat I6 is contracted, valve member 22 is engaged with itsseat l5 and valve member '24 is in its position most remote from theopenings 25, so that cooling medium entering the tubular housing Ilflows out only through the openings 25. When the temperature of thecooling medium reaches a predetermined degree the Y thermostat Il beginsvto expand, moving valve member 22 away from its seat I5 and causingvalve member 24 to approach its opposed wall -I3 until, with .continuedArise in temperature-,f 'the valve member 24 closes the openings 25 andvalve member 221s in its position most remote from its seat l5, therebycausing the circulation to take place through the end opening providedby the tubular wall l5. d n

As before noted, it is sometimes desirable to vary the temperature atwhich the thermostat starts to expand, and if such provision foradjustinent is to properly serve its purpose, it should constitute aguide for the opening and closingV movements of the valve mechanism isprovided with exterior threads 3| on which is threaded a suitable springseat, here shown as in the form of-v an interiorly threaded collar 32.vInterposed between said collar 32 and the valve member 22 is a coilspring 33 of suitable resiliency so, that by movement of said collar 32within its operating range on the threads 3l the tension of said'springmaybe varied Withinthe limits suitable for* aiording the thermostat thedesired adjustment. Any suitable meansnay be provided for moving thecollar 32, said collar here being shown as havingsuitably attachedthereto an `arm 34 which is accessible through one or more of theopenings 25. If desired, means will be apparent that the invention maybe embodied in regulators of widely different construction. Therefore itis to be expressly understood that the invention is not restricted tothe regulator shown as the details of the regulator itself forms no partof the present invention otherwise than as herein indicated. Changes mayalso be made in the details of construction and arrangement of the partsin the provision for adjustment without departing from the presentinvention'. Reference is therefore to be had to the appended claims fora denition of said invention.

What is claimed is:

v1. In a temperature regulator for the cooling system of an internalcombustion engine of the type employing a thermostat, a stem extendingtherefrom, main and by-pass valve members operated by said stem and aguide means intermay also be provided to prevent movement of Y theAcollar 32 except when positively -moved by the arm '34, and to this endthe periphery ofV thev collar 32 is shown as 'serrated and suitablymounted on the spider 26 or lower extremity of the member 30 is aretaining member 35 which stem guide with a minimum of additional parts,

while avoiding complication of the construction andinterference with thefree flow of cooling medium through the housing I0( While the inventionhas thus been described Y in detail as embodied in' one particular formof temperature regulator now known to the art,'it

posed between said main and by-pass lvalve members and cooperating withsaid stem to guide the movementsl of said valve members under theoperation of said thermostat, the improvement winch includes a tubularmember carried by said guide means intermediate said main and by-passvalve members, said tubular member being externally threaded, a. spring'plate threadedly mounted on said tubular member, a coil springsurrounding said valve stem and interposed between said spring plateand'one of said valve members for resiliently urging said valve membersin one direction, and an arm projecting from said spring plate to aposition where it is accessiblethrough the port for one of said valvemembers for rotating said spring plate and adjusting the tension of saidcoil spring.

2. In a temperature regulator for the cooling system of an internalcombustion engine of the type employing a thermostat, a stem extendingtherefrom, main and by-pass valve members operated by-said stem and aguide. means interposed betweensaid main and by-pass valve members andcooperating with said stem to guide n l the movements of said valvemembers under the operation of said thermostat, the improvement whichincludes a tubular` member carried by said guide means intermediate saidmain and by-pass valve members, said tubular member being externallythreaded, a spring plate threadedly mounted von-said tubular member, acoil 4spring surrounding said valve stem and interposed between saidspring plate and one of said valve members for resiliently urging saidvalve members in one direction an arm projecting from said spring plateto a position where it is accessible through the port for one of saidvalve members for rotating said spring plate and adjusting the tensionof said coil spring, and means carried by said guide means for yieldablyengaging said spring plate and restraining the same against accidentaldisplacement.

` JEAN V. GIESLER.

